Latch



April 20, 1926.

F. M. VANDERVOORT LATCH Filed Nov. 20, 1923 Patented Apr. 20, 1926.

UNITED STATES v 1,581,495 AT NT o Fl-cE.

FRANCIS M. VANDERVOOB'I, OF'PUEBLO, COLGRADO, A'SSIGNOB "-10 LI'lHEIPOSITIVE LOCK CQMIPANY, '01 PUEBLO, COLORADO, A CORPORATION OF COLORADO.

LATCH.

Application filed November 20, 1923. Serial No. 675,921

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANoIs M. VANDER- mom, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pueblo, county of Pueblo, State of Colorado, have invented. certain new and useful Improvements in Latches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to' make and use the same.

This invention relates to latches and particularly to latches of the type in which the latch is operated to hold the closure member in closed position by the act of closing the closure member and the latch is operated to release the closure member by the act of opening the closure member.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a latch of simple, compact construction in which the latching element can be retained or locked in latching position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a latch, the parts of which can be r readily assembled, the assembled parts so interlocking .or intenfitti-ng as to eliminate the use of separate means for fastening the parts together.

The above and other objects and novel features of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate one practical form of the invention chosen to illustrate the principles involved. r

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a latch and cooperating keeper embodying the invention,the parts being shown in the position they occupy when mounted on a door and door jamb, respectively.

F ig.- .2 is a side view, partly in section, looking to the right of Fig. 1, showing the latch only,

Fig. 3 is an end view of the latch and keeper, looking from the bottom of Fig. 1, the keeper being shown in section,

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the keeper only, looking from the left of Fig. '3,

Figs. 5 and 6 .are longitudinal section and end views, respectively, of the latching element or bolt,

Figs. 7, .8 and '9 are plan, end, and side views, respectively, of the locking or'retaining member, V

Fig. 10 is a side view of the casing members, showing them ready to be assembled as viewedin Fig. '2. and

Fig. 11 an end view of the casingmembers ready to be assembled. V

Broadly stated, the invention comprises latching means, means operable to retain said latching means, inv projected. position, such retaining means movable to release said latching means," and means for projecting said latching means and for holding such retaining means in either retaining or releasing position.

Stated more specifically, the invention comprises a casing, a latching member supported by said casing, a locking dog slidably supported by said casing movable to lock said latching member in projected position or to release the same, and a leal spring for projecting said latching member and for retaining said dog in either looking or releasing position.

Referring to the drawings 10 indicates generally the latch casing or mounting. In the present instance, the casing comprises two casing members or plates 11 and 12, each casing member or plate being provided with integral right angular-extensions forming sides 13 and 14 and ends 15 and 16. Sides 14 are each provided with two rectangular notches or recesses '17 and 18 and sides 13 are each provided With a sub- Stantially semicircular notch or recess 19.

These notches are so arranged that when casing members 11 and 12 are assembled,

the notches 19 cooperate toprovide an .opening or passage for the latching member B and the rectangular notches or recesses 17 and 18 cooperate to form openings to receive the locking'member or slide 20, to be explained later.

Any suitable means may be used to hold the casing members 11 and 12 together in assembled position, but the means shown is preferred. Side 16 is provided with an integral tongue 21 having a bent end 22, the tongue being bent toward the outside of the casing member before the casing members are assembled. Side 16 isalso provided with a tongue or lug 23, which is out orz-stamped out of the metal forming tongue 21, tongue 23 being bent inwardly or away from tongue 21 to provide a seat between tongues 21 and 23 to receive end 15 of the cooperating casing membern End 15 of the cooperating casing member is provided. with a depressed or bent-in portion 24:, the depressed or bent-in portion being provided with a slot or aperture 25 adapted to re ceive the bent end 22 of tongue 21. Fig. 10 shows the casing members in the positions they occupy just before being as sembled or connected together. To assemble these easing members, the edges of the sides and ends of the casing members are brought together, the depressed or bent portions 24 of ends 15 resting between tongues 21 and 23 of ends 16. The tongues 21 are then bent inwardly to engage the bent ends 22 of these tongues in the slots or apertures 25 of the ends 15. It will be observed that the tongues 21 extend into the depressed or bent-in portions so that when the casing members are finally assembled these tongues do not project beyond the ends of the easing. The casing is provided with apertures 26 to receive screws or other fastening means for securing the casing to the door indicated in dotted lines by D. The casing is secured to the door in such a way that the 'bolt member B projects from the free or swinging edge of the door.

Bolt B is supported for sliding movement in the passageway formed by the cooperating notches 19 in the front side of the casing 10. The shape and construction of this bolt may vary within the scope of the broad in vention, but in the present instance the bolt, indicated generally by B, is made of one piece of stamped or pressed sheet metal and comprises a hollow knob portion 27 projecting through the opening in the front side of the latch casing, the knob being provided with flange 28 and intregral rearwardly extending projections or wings 29. When the bolt is mounted in the casing, the flange 28 thereof engages the inside of the front face of the latch to prevent the knob from being forced out of the casing, projections or wings 29 engaging the casing to provide guides for the bolt in its sliding movement. The bolt is normally projected from the casing by a spring 30.

Means are provided for locking the bolt in projected or latching position comprising a locking slide or dog indicated generally by 20. The locking or retaining member 20 is mounted to slide on the rear side of the casing formed by sides 14 of the casing members 11 and 12. The slide comprises an intermediate portion 31 and integral bent or offset end portions 32, each of the end portions terminating in a right angle bent end or head 33. The bent ends 33 of the slide 20 are adapted to be engaged by the fingers of the user in operating the slide to lock or release the bolt. The slide is supported by the casing so that the intermediate portion 31 slides on the inner side of the rear side of the casing and the offset end portions 32 slide on the outer side of the rear side of the casing, the offset bends 32 extending through the apertures formed by the cooperating rectangular notches or recesses 17 and 18. The offset bends 32 are only slightly longer than the thickness of the casing Wall, the intermediate portion 31 and the offset end portions 32 of the locking member 20 being substantially parallel to and lying closely adjacent to the rear Wall of the casing, thus providing a sliding connection between the locking member and the casing. The intermediate portion 31 of the locking slide is provided with two integral laterally projecting flanges or wings 34-, each wing or .flange provided with an extension 35, extensions 35 extending toward each other to practically engage each other. Each extension or lug 35 is provided with a notched or cutout portion 36, these notched portions cooperating to form a seat or guide, to be explained later.

The wings or projections 34 of the locking slide 20 extend toward the bolt B and in one position of the slide 20, these wings or projections 34E engage the wings or projections 29 of the bolt B to lock the bolt in projected position. This position is shown in full lines in Fig. 1. The locking slide is movable to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and in this position, it will be observed that the wings'or projections 34 of the slide are out of the path of movement of the bolt, thus releasing the bolt and permitting retraction of the same.

The spring 30, in addition to performing the function of normally projecting the bolt B from the casing, also cooperates with the locking slide to hold said slide in either its looking or releasing position. -As shown in Fig. 1, the leaf spring 30 has a bent or looped end 37 which engages in the hollow knob 27 of the bolt B thus preventing accidental disengagement of the spring from the bolt. Spring 30 is provided intermediate its ends 37 and 39 with a return bend 38, the return bend 38 engaging one end of the casing, and the slightly curved end 39 of the spring engaging the opposite end of the casin thesgring 30 is bent to provide a hump 40, the hump engaging extensions 35 of the wings or flanges 34: of locking slide 20 to hold the slide in either looking or releasing position. Spring 30 is supported between the wings 34: of the locking slide, the notches 36 of extensions 35 of the wings or flanges 34L guiding and supporting the spring. As shown in Fig. 1 in full lines, extension 35 of the looking slide are on one side of the hump, the hump holding the slidein this position, which is the locking position. hen the locking slide is moved to releasing position, such position being shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the extensions 35 of the locking slide slightly compress the spring Between return bend 38 and end 39,

as they pass the hump and after they pass the bump, the spring expands to again hold the locking slide against movement. Thus, it will be seen, that the spring 230 performs the double function of normally projecting the bolt and retaining the locking slide in either looking or releasing position.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the latching member or bolt B is adapted to engage in asuitable keeper or strike plate K mounted on the edge of the door jamb indicated by J. In the present instance, the keeper is made of one piece of pressed or stamped metal formed to provide a bolt receiving recess or socket 41, said recess or socket having inclined or (Jamming sides 42. The strike plate is also provided with an inclined entrance portion or cam extension 43 adapted to be engaged by the bolt when the door is swung closed, the cam extension acting to retract the bolt.

Figs. 1 and 3 show the latch and keeper in the position the parts occupy when the door is closed and the latch bolt is locked in projected position. To open the door, the locking slide 20 is moved out of the path of the bolt to the position shown in dotted lines. The bolt is thus released and will be -retracted when the door is swung open, the inclined sides of the socket 41 of the keeper forcing the bolt into the casing as the door swings open. hen the door is closed, the normally projecting bolt is retracted by engagement with the cam extension or entrance portion 42 ot' the keeper, the bolt entering socket 41 of the keeper when the door is closedto latch the door in closed position. To lock the bolt in projected position, the locking slide 20 is then moved to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1.

To assemble the parts of the latch, the bolt, spring and locking slide are placed in their proper cooperating position in one oi the casing members. 1 shows how these parts would be assembled, with bolt B extending through "recess19 and slide 20' extending through notches 1 7 and 18. The other casing member is then placed alongside of the first casing member and the two casing members are securely fastened together by the tongues 21 engaging in the cooperating apertures 25.

Although one constructionembodying the invention has been shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific construction herein illustrated and explained, but that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. A latch comprising latching means, means operable to retain said latching means in projected position, such retaining means movable to release said latching means, and means for projecting said latching means and for holding such retaining means in either retaining or releasing position.

2. A latch comprising latching means, slidable means operable to lock said latching means in projected position, such lockingmeans movable to release said latching means. and resilient means for retaining such locking means in either looking or releasing position.

3. A latch comprising latching means, locking means movable transversely of said latching means to either of two positions, said locking means locking the latching means in projected position when in one position and permitting retraction of the latching means when in the other position, and means for projecting said latching means and for retaining said lockingmeans in either of said two'positi'ons.

4. A latch comprising a latching element, a device for locking said element in projected position, said device bein movable to release or unlock said element, and resilient means for projecting said latching element and for retaining said device either in the position in which said "element is locked in projected position or in the position in which said element is unlocked or released.

5. A latch comp-rising a latching member, a device movable to lock said latching member in projected position or to release said latching member, and a spring for projecting said latching member and for retaining said device in either looking or releasing position.

6. A latch comprising a casing having an opening therein, a latch bolt supported in said opening, a locking dog slidably supported in said casing movable to lock said latch bolt in projected position orto release the sa i1e-, a1id a leaf spring for projecting said latch bolt and for retaining said dog in either looking or releasing position. v

7 A latch comprising a casing having an opening therein, a latch bolt comprising a hollow knob supported in said opening, and a leaf spring for projecting said knob from said casing, saidspring having a bent endv engaging in said hollow knob.

8. A latch comprising a casing having an opening therein, a latch bolt formed of stamped sheet metal supported in said opening, said bolt provided with integral extensions or wings engaging said casing to thereby guide said bolt, and means for normally projecting said bolt from said casing.

9. A latch comprising a casing having an opening therein, a latching member comprising a hollow knob supported for sliding movement in said opening, said knob provided with integral extensions or wings engaging said casing to thereby guide said knob, and a leaf spring for normally projecting said knob from said casing, said spring having a looped end engaging in said hollow knob.

10. A latch comprising a casing, a latch ing member sup-ported in said casing, a slid ing locking member normally out of engagement with said latching member and provided with an extension or wing, said locking member movable to cause said extension or wing to engage with said latching member to lock said latching member in pro jected position, said locking member movable to release said latching member, and spring means for projecting said latching member.

11. A latch comprising a casing, a bolt supported by said casing, said bolt provided with integral extensions or wings engaging said casing to guide said bolt, a sliding locking member provided with extensions or wings, said locking member movable to cause the extensions or wings on the locking member to engage the extensions or wings on said bolt to thereby lock said bolt ,in projected position, said locking member movable to release said bolt, and means for projecting said bolt.

12. A latch comprising a casing, a bolt comprising a hollow knob supported by said casing, a locking member provided with integral extensions or wings, said locking member movable to cause said extensions or wings to engage said bolt to lock the same 7 in projected position, said locking member movable torelease said bolt, and a spring for projecting said bolt and for holding said locking member in bolt-locking or bolt-releasing position,'l said spring having a loope-d end engaging in said hollow knob.

13. The combination, with a double-acting bolt, of means for locking said bolt in projected positiongor for releasing said bolt, and means for projecting said bolt and for holding such locking means in looking or releasing position.

14. In a latch, a casing comprising two plates, each provided with integral extensions forming sides and ends, one end of each of said plates provided with a set of oppositely extending tongues, the other end of each of said plates provided with an aperture, said plates being assembled so that each of the apertured ends of said plates extends between a set of tongues of the other plate, one of the tongues of each set engaging in an aperture.

15. In a latch, a casing comprising two plates, each provided with integral extensions forming sides and ends, one end of each of said plates provided with a set of integral oppositely extending tongues, one of said tongues being cut out from the other tongue, the other end of each of said plates provided with a depressed portion provided with an aperture, said plates being assembled so that each of the depressed portions of said plates extends between a set of tongues of the other plate, one of the tongues of each set engaging in an aperture.

16. In a latch, a casing comprising two plates, each provided with integral extensions forming sides and ends, one side of each plate provided with a notch or recess and the other side of each plate provided with two notches or recesses, a bolt, and a locking member movable to lock said bolt in projected position or to release the same, said plates being assembled so that the notches in the sides of the plates cooperate to form apertures to support and guide said bolt and said locking member respectively.

17. A latch comprising a latching member, a locking member movable to lock said latching member in projectedposition or to release the same, and a leaf spring provided with a hump, said hump engaging said looking member to hold the same in locking or releasing position.

18. A latch comprising a latching member, a locking member movable to lock said latching member. in projected position or to release the same, a leaf spring bent to provide a hump, said hump engaging said locking member to hold the same in looking or releasing position, said spring also holding said latching memberin projected position. a V

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

FRANCIS M. VANDERVOORT. 

